The Specialist homelessness services 2014–15 web report is the fourth annual report from the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection and the first presented as a web report. It describes the characteristics of clients of specialist homelessness services, the services requested, outcomes achieved, and unmet requests for services during 2014–15.

Cat. no: WEB 99

Findings from this report:

1 in 10 young people who presented alone were sleeping rough

329 requests for assistance were unable to be met each day

1 in 3 clients sought support due to domestic and family violence

An estimated 256,000 people were assisted by specialist homelessness agencies

In 2014–15

Young people presenting alone: trends over time

Over the 4 years since the beginning of the SHS collection in 2011–12 the number of young people presenting alone to an agency has fluctuated. Key trends over these 4 years have been:

The rate of service use by young people presenting alone to SHS agencies has decreased from 20 young people per 10,000 population in 2011–12 to 18 young people per 10,000 in 2014–15.

Domestic and family violence or housing crisis remain the most common main reasons why young people presenting alone are seeking assistance.

The median length of support for these clients has increased.

In 2014–15 changes occurred in the way agencies are required to report 'main reason' and 'reasons for seeking assistance'. Comparisons over time should be made with caution as the reporting of housing crisis, financial difficulties and housing affordability stress may be inconsistent between agencies. See Technical information for further details.

Young people (15–24 years) presenting alone: at a glance—trends over time

2011–12

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

Number of clients (proportion of all clients)

43,531 (18%)

45,071 (18%)

44,414 (17%)

41,780 (16%)

Rate (per 10,000 population)

20

20

19

18

Housing situation at the beginning of first support period (all clients)

Homeless: At risk of homelessness

50%: 50%

*51%: 49%

*50%: 50%

52%: 48%

Living arrangement

Lone person

39%

38%

38%

39%

Sole parent

16%

16%

16%

15%

Couple with child/ren

7%

8%

8%

8%

Couple without children

6%

7%

7%

7%

Other family group

32%

31%

31%

30%

Main reason for seeking assistance (Top 3)

Housing crisis

15%

16%

16%

21%

Domestic and family violence

16%

15%

15%

15%

Relationship/family breakdown

14%

13%

13%

12%

Proportion receiving accommodation (median (nights))

39% (35)

37% (36)

*36% (41)

35% (41)

Number of support periods (average per client)

69,096 (1.6)

77,028 (1.7)

76,157 (1.7)

74,274 (1.8)

Average (median) length of support (days)

88 (35)

96 (41)

*98 (46)

92 (44)

Proportion of a client group with a case management plan

54%

*54%

57%

58%

Achievement of all case management goals

16%

16%

*17%

20%

Notes

Rates are crude rates based on the Australian estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June of the reference year.

* Indicates where previously published data have been revised to ensure consistent reporting over time. 2011–12 data were revised in December 2013 but not previously reported in this format.

The denominator for the proportion achieving all case management goals is the number of client groups with a case management plan. Denominator values for proportions are provided in the relevant national supplementary table.

In 2014–15 16% of all clients (41,780 people) accessing specialist homelessness services were young people (aged 15–24) who presented alone. This represents a 6% reduction in client numbers compared with 2013–14 and a trend observed in all states and territories.

For 39% of these clients they lived alone at the time of approaching a specialist homelessness agency and a further 15% lived as a couple, either with or without children.

The majority of young people presenting alone were female (63%) and 79% were aged between 18 and 24.

Services needed and provided

For young people presenting alone, the most common needs identified were accommodation related, including short-term or emergency accommodation (39% or over 16,000 clients), medium-term/transitional housing (35%) and long-term accommodation (37%) (Figure YOUNG.1).

Sixty-one per cent of young people presenting alone with an identified need for short term or emergency housing were provided assistance. This proportion is lower than the general SHS client population (66%).

Compared with the overall SHS population, young people presenting alone were more likely to be identified as needing assistance with living skills/personal development (33% compared with 20%), education (19% compared with 9%), employment (13% compared with 5%) and training (12% compared with 5%).

The need for these services was unmet in some cases (20% for those who identified needs for education, 26% for employment and 27% for training assistance).

Figure YOUNG.1: Young people presenting alone, by top 6 most needed services and service provision status, 2014–15